Nonferrous alloy



J B. GEENAGLE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB OF I ONE-HALF 1AM W.VARNEY, OF BALTIMORE, MARY'L i HONFERROUS ALLOY m Drawing.

production of a non-ferrous alloy which is free from attack by ammoniachloride,

chlorine, ammonia, mine waters and alkalis generally.

A further object of my invention is the producing of a non-ferrous alloywhich is free from attack by sulphurous fumes and gases evolved in theroduction or refining and manufacturing 0 oils and gasoline, and freefrom attack by hypo-chlorides and hyposulphites. I

A further object of m invention is a new process of alloying the eements herein mentioned.

A further object of my invention is a new process for obtaining theelements and compounds herein mentioned.

A further object of my invention is a new process of separating tantalumand niobium.

A further object of my invention is a new process of obtaining uranicacid.

A further object of my invention is a new process of obtaining niobicacid.

A further object of my invention, is a new process of obtaining yttricacid.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists ofthe methods employed, combination and arrangement of.

systems and means as hereinafter specifically provided, but it isunderstood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted towhich come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Broadly, my new non-ferrous alloy comprises tantalum, yttrium, uraniumand niobium. And it is preferably for certain uses that the tantalumcontent be of relatively high proportion tdthe niobium and uraniumcontent, and that the yttrium content be of "mineral oils.

Application filed October 1?, 1929. Serial No. 400,4;8.

relatively low proportion to the tantalum'andniobium content.

. As a concrete example, which I have found gives a very satisfactorynon-ferrous alloy for the purposes indicated, the tantalum contentvaries within the range of 30-50%, the

niobium content varies from. 12-26%, the yttrium content varies from842%, and the uranium content varies from 842%. I have found that it ispreferable to have the tanw talum content equal the combined content ofthe niobium, yttrium and uranium.

In the preparation of my alloy I have found it desirable to add thetantalum content after the other contents are fused, and

that the tantalum content must be free from min and other impurities.

In the making up of this alloy, which is formed by taking ingredientsembodying the above metals, or elements, respectively, in m metallicform and heating the mixture, the metal content of the metals suggested;namely, tantalum, yttrium, niobium and uranium, are merged into analloy.

One example of forming this alloy is by 7 taking the commercially puremetals in the proportions as above named and melting the same to obtainanintermixed molten mass which when properly done and upon cooling willyield a solid alloy of the above analysis.

This alloyappears as a grayish-white, ductile metal, a good conductor ofheat and electricity proportioned to the tensile strength of ordinarymachine steel; and I have further found if it is cast in a closed mold,will be 35 temperature may be obtained depending upon the variouspercentages of mix, likewise, its relative hardness and ductility.

This alloy, as above, possesses. metallic properties, but issubstantially free from attack by hydro-chloric, nitric and sulphuric g5acid, or gases. The alloy is also free from at- .tack by sulphurousfumes, salt water or air, chlorine, and the ases created in distillingand refining cru e petroleum and other The alloy is also free fromattack by calcium; and other chemical hypochlorides, and by sodium andpotassium hypochlorides, and by sodium and other chemicalhypo-sulphites.

The physical and chemical properties of thisalloy, render it especiallyadaptable, for electrode and structural parts of radio tubes. Thesedesirable properties include softness and ease in forming, combined withadequate strength and rigidity, and extremely high melting point.

The alloy, in addition, acts as a getter due to its gas absorptionproperties above a white heat and may be used alone as a clean-up agent,or in conjunction with a more common agent suchas is used to-day,principally magnesium. This makes it particularly important tomanufacturers of alternating current radio tubes. 7

When the alloy is used as a etter, it may be welded, brazed, or soldereto the plate or structural part of the tube, a much more uniform run oftubes with a smaller percentage of rejection is to be expected when thisalloy is used as agetter, or as an accessary to the usual getter.

This alloy may be readily welded or brazed to such metal as copper,nickel, chromium, etc., which are used in the structural parts of tubes,as it does not oxidize in the air, electric or spot welding is desirableand may be performed without loss or injury to the metal.

'It is not acted upon by the or chemicals:

Sulphuric acid dilute, or. concentrated, hot or cold; nitric aciddilute, or concentrated, hot or cold; hydrochloric acid dilute, orconcentrated, hot. or cold; aqua regia dilute, or concentrated, hot oicold; hydrofluoric acl d dilute, or concentrated, hot or cold; formicacid, concentrated or diluted oxalic acid, concentrated or diluted;phosphoric acid, concentrated or diluted; carbolic acid, concentrated ordiluted; citric acid, concentrated or diluted; tannic acid, concentratedor diluted; sodium acetate 20% solution; iodine acetate 10% solution;chlorinesolution, no action; sodium hydroxite, dilute solution; potassmmhydroxite,

following acids action; carbon monoxide, no action.

In the commercializing of my process herein set forth, I have discoveredthat tantalum V and niobium under commercial working are form as hasheretofore been considered absolutely essential.

salt water, no action; sea air, no action; sulphurous atmosphere, no

aesnm'i rate out by crystallization, re-crystalized again, dissolved asbefore adding a little potassium carbonate, evaporating to dryness,

heating carefully, adding water and boillng the solution. The tantalums'eparatescompletely as oxy-fluotantalate zxz'ramrazoa While all theniobium remains in solution as I obtain my niobium as follows: From thefiltrate the niobium is precipitated as niobic acid by evaporating tofuming with sulphuric acid, diluting, washing alkaline with ammoniumhydroxide, and re-acidifying with sulphuric acid boiling andprecipitating with ammonia. 1

I obtain my yttrium as follows: The ore is pulverized, washed, digestedwith concen-' trated HCL to remove the iron, mixed with I twice itsweight of NaCO, and heated to a white heat. The melt is leached withwater .and the insoluble residue treated with excess of H SO wliichexcess is later driven off. The yttrium precipitated by H,OH andtheyttrium hydroxide precipitated as oxide.

Uranium: The ore is roasted with an alkali until thoroughly fused,washed with hot water until free of iron and dissolved with HNO rEvaporate the HNO solution obtained to a volume of about 40% and cool.Made neutral-with NI-LOH, add about 5% of H03 0, and 15% of H1 0 heatthe mixture toboiling, a white precipitate of uranium is formed. Cool tocoagulate the precipitate, wash and ignite to U 0 The most preferredform of the alloy consists of a tantalum content greater than the sum ofthe niobium and yttrium contents, the

yttrium and uranium contents being substantially equivalent. The niobiumcontent being less than the tantalum content and greater than thecombined yttrium and uranium content.

The alloy ossesses metallic pro erties but is substantia 1y free fromattack y hydrochloric, nitric, sulphuric acids or gases. The alloy isfree .from' attack by sulphurous fumes, salt water or air, chlorine'andthe gases created inthe distilling and refining of crude petroleum andother mineral oils.

su1hate is dissolved in water,

The alloy is also free from attack by calcium and other commercialhypo-chlorites and by sodium and potassium hypo-chlorites and by sodiumand other commercial hyposulphites.

Niobium-and tantalum are recognized as almost similar elements in theirbehavior, except their melting point is difierent, and I take advantageof that in the forming of my alloy; I take the oxide of the two elementsand reduce the niobium first, which attacks the oxide of tantalum,reducing the same.

In this specification and claims, when I use the term, niobic acid-- Imeans a chemical combination of niobium in any chemical compound; andwhen I use the term; tantalic acid, I mean a chemical combination oftantalum in any chemical compound.

Attention is especially called to my process described herein where I amenabled to obtain uranium as a. precipitate without a precipitatingagent, wherein concentration, heating and cooling is availed of wherebya coagulation is obtained, and the elements ordinarily precipitatedwithlthe uranium are held in solution.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim'and desire-to secure byLetters'Pat-- cut is:

1. An alloyconsisting of tantalum in the proportion of from 30 to ofniobium in the proportion of from 12 to 26%, of yttrium in theproportion of from 8 to 12%, and of uranium in the proportion of from 8to 12%.

2. An alloy of tantalum in the proportion of from 30 to yttrium anduranium in substantially equal proportion to one another, and of niobiumof from 12 to 26%, the combined aforesaid proportions totalling JAMES B.GRENAGLE.

